After getting to know Dawayne Bahe, one of the NCAP silversmithing emerging artisans, I thought to myself - this guy is the living embodiment of supply and demand. As a business student the laws of supply and demand are one of the basics taught to us. And they actually help out a great deal now that as a BUSI at NCAP. In reality, I guess you could say that working with and around Navajo cultural arts is an excellent way to get hands on experiences of these laws.

While talking with Dawayne one particular concept that stuck out to me was Sey’s Law, which states: “supply makes its own demand”. For Dawayne, each time he starts on a sash belt, it sold before he even takes it off his vertical loom. His work and skill is so sought after that when someone finds out he is weaving, they come to him ready to buy his work in progress (had to put an accounting term here). This selling methods baffled me as I thought that Navajo artisans would produce their work in the hopes that there were demand. And while many artisans do work according to that mantra, Dawayne doesn’t. Demand is there way before the product materializes. ​

While he is able to guarantee his sash belts a home, this practice of selling his work early has an effect on Dawayne. He stated that he sometimes doesn’t get to fully appreciate his piece of work because it already belongs to the buyer. He also said that he wish he could have more time with the sash belts to reflect on it and document it. Documenting has become a key project as part of his Navajo Cultural Arts Certificate program. In many of the classes, instructors constantly remind students to take pictures and build their artisan work portfolios. In efforts to build his portfolio he stated that he stated he has tried to track down his work (which our fancy new NCAP tags will help with in the future) to document it.

Sashbelts created by Emerging Artisans, Carlon, Ilene, and Dawayne, during a workshop hosted by Jonah Yazzie

Dawayne has also spent some time in the program analyzing his supply and demand selling patterns. I was fortunate to work with him on his business plan. As we worked on the marketing section of his business plan, he told me he hopes to have an international client base. He wants to reach to people who want to learn about or collect Navajo and Native American arts. NCAP is just another tool for him to utilize to get him there.

The Law of Supply and Demand is challenging in the beginning for artist’s to start selling their products but it is really fortunate to have a buyer before the product is finished. My parents and I have been in the business and have buyers and orders that keep coming. Now with the economy, most people look for other ways to provide for themselves and their families, so it is fortunate to have a guarantee sell after finishing any product, whether it will be a Sash belt or a piece of jewelry. The Navajo Cultural Arts Program has helped us in so many ways from business plans to developing our portfolio. A portfolio is highly recommended to have a recorded log of the work, but once the product is sold before it is done is difficult and I agree.

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